Here is chance to help the community and have a lot of fun.
The 14th annual Patcong Creek Cleanup is planned for Sunday, May 19 starting at 9:30 a.m.
The clean-up, hosted by the Linwood Environmental Commission, includes the entire tidal creek from the mouth of the Great Egg Harbor Township in Somers Point to Bargaintown Pond in Linwood.
There are four drop-in/clean-up locations – Poplar Avenue Bridge, Hamilton Avenue Ramp, Ocean Heights Avenue and Somers Point-Mays Landing Road.
The Patcong Creek Cleanup was started in 2005 and has grown over the years thanks to many partners including, the City of Linwood, the Atlantic County Utilities Authority, the New Jersey Clean Communities Program, the Patcong Creek Foundation Inc., the Somers Point Green Team, and Ocean Height Marina, according to a press release.
All volunteers are asked to register in advance by completing an entry form which is available at Linwood City Hall and on the City of Linwood’s web site at www.linwoodcity.org.
Volunteers will meet at the Linwood Public Works Building on Hamilton Avenue between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
The ACUA will distribute free T-shirts, plastic bags, and gloves to all who participate and then they will be dispatched to one of the four clean-up areas. This is a rain or shine event.
Boaters will patrol the water and pick up floating litter, while land lovers will clean up the sides of the creek and roadside areas that border the creek.
Those with motor boats will assist paddlers by picking up their full bags and larger items found along the creek.
To reward the volunteers a picnic will be held at the Ocean Heights Marina located at 5001 Ocean Heights Ave.
The picnic starts at noon. Crabs that are freshly harvested from the Patcong Creek volunteers will be served along with sandwiches, subs, pizza and other goodies.
Organizers will give prizes for the muddiest volunteer, best trash found, and other categories.
The Patcong Creek is a tributary of the federally designated wild and scenic Great Egg Harbor River. It is the home of a pair of bald eagles, ospreys and herons.
Sponsors include Linwood Public Works Department, Lang’s Garden Center, Glenn Insurance, Beacon Cycles, La Pizzatega, Primo’s Pizza, the Paddle Shack and Playland’s Castaway Cove.
Preregistration is required. To register call Leigh Ann Napoli, Linwood City Clerk, at (609) 927-4108 or stop by Linwood City Hall to complete a registration form.
